UPDATE: New GOP Congressman Links Vaccines, Autism, then Walks It Back

Editors’ Note: On November 4, 2018, VoxFairfax published an article entitled Fear Rules, Health Suffers, on parents choosing not to vaccinate their children (https://voxfairfax.com/2018/11/04/fear-rules-health-suffers/). As shown below, the issue just will not go away.

Mark Green is a newly elected Republican congressman from Tennessee, and a medical doctor [emphasis added]. He recently caused a stir when he said, in response to a question at a town hall meeting,

Let me say this about autism. I have committed to people in my community, up in Montgomery County, to stand on the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) desk and get the real data on vaccines. Because there is some concern that the rise in autism is the result of the preservatives that are in our vaccines.

No, Mr. Green. No, there is no such concern among intelligent people who read. He has since walked back the statement:

Recent comments I made at a town hall regarding vaccines has [sic] been misconstrued. I want to reiterate my wife and I vaccinated our children, and we believe, and advise others they should have their children vaccinated.

The Tennessee Department of Health issued a brief but direct statement:

“Vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines save lives. The Tennessee Department of Health welcomes discussion with Tennessee clinicians and scientists who would like to examine the evidence on this topic.

The soon-to-be-congressman–not only a doctor but also a former Army surgeon, businessman, and cancer survivor, withdrew as President Trump’s nominee for Army secretary earlier this year amid criticism of his comments about gay and transgender people.